can't stop wearing my breton top

I like to think I'm my own person, I'm not a slave to fashion, I don't blindly follow every trend like a sheep. In fact, in the past year, I'm thrilled to bits to see that many of my own quirky things that I've always done (ankle socks with girly shoes or sandals, bare bony knees, etc etc) are all now becoming trends. Alexa Chung reminds me so much of a younger me, it's scary.

But this Breton top thing.. I don't care that everyone is wearing it. I've had a thick one for years - and a few years ago bought striped tees from the Gap in three colours, but when I passed a Zara a few weeks ago, on impulse, I bought one really cheap (ten quid) and have been wearing it non stop.



The other day, I asked Mr. Dot to shoot my nails in our wonderful secret garden (we belong to a garden square, it's sunk in and beautiful) because I wanted to show you my other current obsession: blending nail polish. I've discovered that by adding a surprisingly few drops of a very inky navy blue colour (which I can't wear because I look like a cadaver), to peachy pink, it turns a wonderful metallic greyish blue. Someone was saying recently that her theory why we're loving nail polish lately is she feels her hands are ugly and that makes them prettier. Looking at these photos, my hands and wrists look so old: veiny & weird, but they always did, even as a kid, and I just love coloured nails because.. I don't know why! It's just fun.

I've been (how sad is this) struggling to come up with a name for the colour (like griege, which is grey and beige, this is grey and blue, but grue doesn't do it for me) so I've decided to call it Breton Blue. And the process of blending polish, or VARNISH as you call it.. I've dubbed it BLENDISHING. You've read it here first, kittens!



The weird thing about this Breton thing is, I don't at all mind that everyone is wearing it. It's ironic it's become synonymous with Chanel, because she just adopted it from sailors (as anyone who's seen the film knows). I don't believe she used the stripe in her couture clothes: that was later, that the Chanel brand took ownership of the meme, like they have recently with clogs, or turquoise nail varnish. Anyway, at some point, I'm sure I'll get bored with the fad, but for now.. I'm riding out this fashion wave for as long as I feel like it. I kind of like seeing everyone in the shirt: it's like we're part of a club.

Oh!! Must thank you for your response to the First Annual Polka Dot Princess of the Maypole Competition (previous post: vote on You've Been Dotted). It runs til Sunday but I don't want to push you, Polka Dots. I, personally, am not competitive by nature, so I can understand if you don't want to enter. But definitely vote! Remember: like the elections here next Thursday, every vote counts.